Tales from the topographic ocean

All Change!

The weather promised the first dip for ages and although the tide was low, Joan, Emma, Ollie, Hildi & Pete arrived full of hope only to discover a scene of utter devastation. This was no longer our beach, strange dead creatures from 1000 fathoms littered the shore, some had arranged themselves into fantastic and macabre still life on the groyne.  What was initially taken for spume at the water's edge revealed itself to be fresh chalky rock outcrops.  Mud and seaweed masked the entrance to the water and entrance was made with some trepidation.  Joan & Ollie quickly reported that the winter beach was too difficult an access route so all decamped to the "Big Beach".  Here, we could at least get in a few metres and get the shoulders under in a semblance of swimming.  This lasted until Pete trod on something which moved.  Not only did it move but he felt it sliding up his right leg.  Girlish yelping was permitted but Ollie manfully bent down and retrieved... a section of clinker from what was  probably a 1930s Antiguan fishing vessel (Ollie's interpretation).  It bore rusty pointy fangs so Ollie threw it back to attack another unwary swimmer.

Ollie also spotted an albino saltwater anaconda half washed up.  The boys grabbed the head and hauled it up the beach, Ollie guessed it to weigh 100kilos.  Both thought about taking it home in order to grace the garden but even coiled, it would fit in neither car.  We left it where it lay, its tail twitching in the surf. The final oddity was revealed as Pete returned to the hut only to find that the sea had swallowed up another pair of his underpants...

The beach has changed and felt a little odd, a line on the groyne indicates that we have lost around a metre of shingle and all of the sand.  It'll be a while before we can once more call the beach "home"

Dippers: Joan, Ollie, Emma, Hildi, Pete
Air and sea temp: 7 degrees
Sea: Mysterious and no longer ours

Like a stoat up a drainpipe

The "Stoat" surveys his playground

A topsy turvy sea, half way in with a vicious little uplift over the shelving shingle greeted Joan, Emma, Ollie & Pete.

It was cold, windy and decidedly uninviting but true to SSF form, the four faced the channel and with a united wimper decided to bask in the surf instead of a "proper" swim. Unnoticed however, Ollie spotted a gap in the surf and like the proverbial stoat, was in and halfway to a width before the others had noticed the yellow SSF cap ploughing its lonely furrow.

Pete made a game attempt to follow but was pushed back by the mighty surf.  Ollie did well to complete a width and a half and once in, basked in the glory of the only SSF that week to make the cut.  The warm water shower was barely needed this morning and the discussion was mainly how early the first Rotters swim could be made this year - surely, the sea is even at 8 degrees, unseasonably warm - maybe mid-March?

Attendees: Ollie, Joan, Emma, Pete
Swimmers: Ollie
Air temp: 8 degrees
Sea temp 8 degrees
Sea: Suitable for stoats

Widths Fantasy League

After a change in job, this was a rare appearance for Hildi and Ollie aiming to bag the January swim.  Conditions were perfect. Widths were swum: 7 for Ollie, 14 for Hildi, substantially altering the leader board, I believe. Both Joan's and Emma's bikini bodies were on display, complete with six packs. When dawn came unseasonal sunshine bathed the beach and temperatures soared. Boot camp Marco was even tempted, although he was without swimming things and so was forced to go in naked.... A great advert for the boot camp!  What a day to miss, Pete!

And as we left the beach, pigs were observed doing a fly past with the cormorants... 

Corrected log reads as follows.


Swimmers: Hildi, Ollie, Joan, Emma.
Conditions: playful with a strong undertow. Accessible for frolicking and casual swimming due to low tide.
Temperatures: air about 8, sea about 6/7 (estimate).
Widths: none.

Pure evil? Steady on Joan!

Darker and darker are the mornings now but at least this is the slide to Christmas with celebratory swims, songs and vittels to gladden the heart.

Just a trio this morning with Emma & Joan still glowing from bootcamp and Pete wrapped up against the 6 degree chill in the air.  With bike parked and table arranged for the ladies' bits & pieces, Pete retired to the luxury of the new shag pile in order to disrobe.

With the tide out, all were contemplating a stony painful walk to the sea and then little to reward the freezing shoulders until at least 50m out.  It was at this point that Joan announced that the sea this morning was "evil".  The plot thickened as she failed to elaborate and then sprinted off into the inky blackness in search of who knew what.

Once reached, the usual painful feet followed and the gradual numbing of all areas northward.  The timer was on and six minutes into the swim, Pete could feel the rosy glow.  Joan had now made friends with the sea again and Emma was emitting her usual groans as the initial pain subsided and the endorphins kicked in.  The sea was a degree warmer than land with no discernable wind today.  With the tide out, widths were not legal but that didn't stop Pete from throwing in a sneaky one.  For a width to be counted, the groynes must be swimmable to.  Emma however dropped a bombshell and reported that she and Richard had completed two widths of the BIG BEACH at the weekend!  By common consent a big beach width is worth two smaller ones thus propelling Emma into an early lead with 6 playing 4 for Pete and 2 for Ollie - Come one Hildi!

A lovely warm shower for some with Emma refusing offers - my, that woman is hardy.  Confirmation that all can attend the Swim Song on the 22nd with a few extras coming along too.  After careful thought it was decided to turn the Dip & Dash into a Dash & Dip for practical & safety reasons - to be confirmed with the other competitors.

Swimmers: Joan, Emma, Pete
In 7:06
Out: 7:16
Air temp 6 degrees
Sea temp 7 degrees
Sea: "Pure evil"

Icecream head? Mine's a 99.

It was properly dark when the keymaster arrived in the shape of Joan with the means to allow us to enter nirvana.  Yes, it's hut time again!

Unfortunately the keymaster struggled since all had reckoned without the dark and none had bought torches.  We waited as first Joan then Emma blindly fiddled  - then Pete came to the rescue since this was a rare occasion when he had bought his phone.  The sickly greenish light from an early 2000 Nokia was sufficient for us to gain entry.

After the rough and tumble of last week, today was calm and although two degrees cooler on land, felt much more comfortable.  The tide was in and Joan led the charge to the beach - One can only assume that she has hobbit's feet because running on the stones, Pete was in pain all the way.  The sea was warmer than the air but still potent enough to instantly freeze the toes.  For the good folk of Saltdean, it must have seemed like a Roman orgy was in progress somewhere in the dark, with alternate squeals from Ollie and groans from Emma as the withering briney inched further up the body.

Anyway, this was the start of widths season and letting Joan frolic solo, the others joined with a will to grind them out.  The sea was perfectly still and when we could see it, perfectly clear, absolutely beautiful, no sunrise treat this morning but the first collective ice cream head of the winter.  The first is always the worst because you forget that it gets better after a few minutes.  Anyway, the rosy glow appeared all over our bodies and then it was time to leave, Pete being the last to exit with four widths under belt and the others, two.  One feels that Emma is only just getting warmed up whilst Ollie declared that two was his limit each week until June.

Much discussion of Dip & Dash for New Year's Day and also, the SSF Swim Song for Dec 22nd.
Hoping that many will turn up for both to participate or simply sing & eat.

Swimmers: Joan, Emma, Ollie, Pete
Apologies: Poorly Hildi

Air temp: 6 degrees
Sea Temp: 8 degrees
In: 7.05
Out: 7.20
Sea: Bombay Sapphire

My eyes, My eyes!

Pete & Ollie went for a run this morning - separately, missing each other in the car park by seconds, Pete must be running better than he thought since Ollie failed to catch him.  5km later and nicely warmed up in spite of the cutting westerly, Pete joined Emma and an apologetic Ollie on the beach.
Both appeared to be looking for the sea - it was a way out and quite boisterous.

Emma and Ollie seemed to be in no hurry to start, explained no doubt by the fact that both had forgotten not only boots but gloves as well.  Pete felt doubly smug as he donned his neoprene bonnet. probably now a fixture until spring. Trying to look cool is not an option at these temperatures. Wading to deeper water was torture for the feet even inside socks. This week Emma vied with Ollie in the squealing-like-a-girl stakes.  Ollie still wins.

The sea was playful negating anything but splashing but all made in Paul C's words " a serious attempt at swimming".  Pete's goggles steamed up and so tried face down in the water without them....and discovered a brand new level of pain.  Won't do that again!

The sea and air were both steady at 8 degrees and the trio were undecided which was preferable.  Water just won but only because with most of the body under, you couldn't feel the biting wind.

Discussion on the beach about possible New year's Day frolicks - the consensus was an SSF "Dip & Dash".  Our version of an aquathlon. Details to be ironed out.

The shakes returned properly today with Pete distributing tea evenly over his hands and yoda.  Still, first sub 10 of the season, it can only start to feel better after this, can't it?

Swimmers: Ollie, Emma, Pete
In: 7:18
Out: 7:28
Air temp: 8 degrees
Sea temp: 8 degrees
Sea: Playful

Mind the Gap - Weds 13-11-13

Posting the blog requires routine.  When that breaks, days creep past and thoughts of what happened
vanish like footprints in the sand (sorry).

One of those lovely times when you can just feel the tendrils of summer and winter meeting under the waves.  The sea temp was hovering in double figures, the tide in and the surface calm, perfect for widths and much enjoyed by Ollie, Hildi & Pete.  Bootcampers Joan and Ema opting for an early dip once more.

Back on shore, an unmistakably winter-like four degrees greeted the swimmers.  Much was made again of the winter yodas, Pete & Hildi once more feeling smug and warm (ish) under theirs whilst Ollie kept the flag flying for traditional british modes of changing.

Ollie did model some new lines in SSF post swim wear see left - watch for developments. In all a very satisfying dip with the prospect that balmy days like this are about to come to an abrupt end.

Swimmers: Joan, Emma, Ollie, Hildi, Pete

Air temp: 4 degrees
Sea temp: 10 degrees
In:    7:10
Out: 7:30
Sea:  Glorious
Bird: Some kind of gull